Visit of environmental Chinese delegation to Costa Brava water reuse projects

From http://80.37.62.109:8081/notapremsa/not-llegir.php?id=168 (in Catalan)

A delegation of members from the Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection (中华人民共和国环境保护部), the Changjiang Water Resources Commission (长江水利委员会) and the Yellow River Conservancy Commission (黄河水利委员会) visited two water reuse projects in Costa Brava, in Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar (Girona, Catalonia) on October 22nd, 2011, as part of the EU China River Basin Management Program (RBMP) to strengthen their capacity in decentralized wastewater treatment and reuse. The delegation was lead by Dutch professor Peter van der Steen, coordinator of the modules "Integrated Urban Water Management" and "Sustainable Wastewater Treatment and Reuse" at the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education. The aim of the visit was to learn from the experience of Consorci Costa Brava on water reclamation and reuse in the two municipalities that started having a municipal network for the distribution of reclaimed water for non-potable purposes, as a means to conserve water and save energy -as compared with the energy costs of drinking water production and supply in the area-. The delegation visited the Tossa de Mar water reclamation treatment and the main reuse sites in the village, as well as the Santa Clotilde gardens in Lloret de Mar, where reclaimed water is used since May 2007.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="368"] Visit at the Tossa de Mar reclamation plant[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="351"] Group picture of the delegation at the Santa Clotilde gardens, Lloret de Mar[/caption]

More pictures of these visits to Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar can be seen at the Sinalunya Flickr site.

Catalan Torelló cava wine maker sets in Hong Kong

From http://www.expansion.com/2011/10/24/catalunya/1319484860.html (in Spanish)

Torelló is a cellar based in Subirats (Alt Penedès, Catalonia) that has been making cava wine since 1951, although the family has been growing grapes since 1395, when a local landlord granted some land to the Miquel family. Now, with the 22nd generation in command of the business, the time for internationalization has arrived. After more than 20 years in Japan, Torelló has found a distributor in Hong Kong that is expected to become the gateway to China and its market. Torelló produces 650,000 bottles per year, of which 550,000 are of cava and the remaining 100,000 bottles are of wine, and its principals markets so far are Spain, Belgium and Norway.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="557" caption="Torelló vineyards (Image from Torelló website)"][/caption]

China at Barcelona Summit held successfully in Barcelona

From http://www.casaasia.eu/noticia/detalle?id=204010 (in English)

The first edition of the China at Barcelona Summit was successfully held in Barcelona from October 19th to 21st, 2011. It is a pioneer initiative for promoting  Chinese investments to southern Europe and the Mediterranean area, and it has seen the participation of some 30 companies from different sectors and 4 investment agencies based in Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing and in the province of Shandong. The event has also had the participation of authorities such as the President of the Catalan Government, Artur Mas, the chairs of the China at Barcelona Summit, Miquel Valls (President of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce), Juan José Herrera de la Muela (General Director of Casa Àsia), Patrick de Cambourg (President and CEO of Mazars Group), Juan María Nin (Executive Vice President and Chief Executive of CaixaBank), and Xavier Trias (Mayor of Barcelona).

For a detailed account on the Summit, you can read the report posted on Casa Àsia website. The Flickr site of the Mayor of Barcelona, Xavier Trias, displays 16 pictures of his participation on the event and an specific LinkedIn China at Barcelona Summit group has been created.

Xavier Trias at the China at Barcelona Summit (image from Xavier Trias' Flickr site)

Summary of economic news about Catalonia

In the last few days several news about the evolution of economy in Catalonia have been released. Here's a summary of the most interesting ones and the links where to read them more in detail, plus a small summary of the piece of news written in Catalan.

* Catalan economy grew by 0.7% from June 2010 to June 2011 - http://www.catalannewsagency.com/news/business/catalan-economy-grew-07-june-2010-june-2011 (in English)

* The worst September in 15 years for unemployment in Catalonia - http://www.catalannewsagency.com/news/politics/worst-september-15-years-16282-more-people-registered-unemployed-catalonia (in English)

* Annual inflation in Catalonia measured at 3.2% at the end of September - http://www.catalannewsagency.com/news/business/tobacco-fuel-prices-and-fresh-food-put-annual-inflation-catalonia-32-end-september (in English)

* House sales in Catalonia fell by 34% during August and in comparison with the previous years - http://www.catalannewsagency.com/news/business/house-sales-catalonia-fell-34-august-compared-previous-years (in English)

* Catalan exports increased by 14% in July - http://www.acc10.cat/ACC1O/cat/empresa-ACC1O/premsa/noticies-notes-premsa/2011/110925.jsp (in Catalan)

Catalan exports have increased by 19th consecutive month in July 2011 and they have amounted 5 billion euro, 27% of total Spanish exports. According to the press release, exports to the Euro zone have increased by 10.40%, whereas those to the rest of the world have increased by 18.16%. Exports to Asia have grown by 9.73%.

Barcelona appointed as the sixth best European city to locate a business

From http://www.catalannewsagency.com/news/business/barcelona-sixth-best-european-city-locate-business (in English)

The capital city of Catalonia, Barcelona has recently been appointed as the sixth best European city to locate a business in 2011, behind London, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Berlin, dropping one place from 2010's results, but one position ahead of Madrid. This European Cities Monitor list is compiled each year by the consultancy firm Cushman & Wakefield and is the result of analyzing twelve indicators. The position of Barcelona is expected to go even higher on the list if improvements are made in the future on telecommunications, international flights, market access and English language skills. For a more detailed information, either visit the link at the beginning of this post or go to the European Cities Monitor website.

[caption id="attachment_986" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="View of Barcelona from Gaudí's Parc Güell"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_987" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Agbar Tower, Barcelona"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_990" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Barcelona's recently developed Forum area"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_989" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Casa de les Punxes o Casa Terrades by Josep Puig i Cadafalch, Barcelona"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_988" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="La Rambla, Barcelona"][/caption]

Barcelona Chamber of Commerce organizes workshop on investments in China

From http://www.cambrabcn.org/agenda/-/enhanced_calendar/VE?salesProductId=Q0TPPA0JYE8G&tipus=Jornades and http://www.casaasia.eu/actividad/detalle?id=203909 (in English)

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125" caption="Barcelona Chamber of Commerce"][/caption]

The Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, La Caixa and Mazars, in collaboration with Casa Asia are organizing a workshop aimed at the Catalan companies willing to invest in China, more specifically in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing and in the province of Shandong.  This workshop is organized as a side event of the China at Barcelona Summit to be held in Barcelona between October 19th and 21st, to which  the representatives of the investment promotion agencies of these 3 cities and province will be attending. The Chinese officials will provide policy updates and the current situation of inbound investment in their areas. The session is also aimed at becoming a platform for business matchmaking between attendees and the agencies' representatives. Admission will be free prior registration and maximum capacity will be 45 attendants. The language for this event will be English and no translation will be provided.

Programme

3.30 pm: Welcome and opening session

Mr. Josep Mª Cervera, International Director, Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation
Mr. Jordi Martí, Responsible for the China Desk of Mazars Spain & Mr. Bryan Chen, Partner, Mazars Shanghai
Mr. Amadeu Jensana, Director of Economic Programs and Cooperation of Casa Asia

3.45 pm

Panel 1: Shui Yong, Deputy Director, Beijing Investment Promotion Bureau
Panel 2: She Guizheng, Chongqing Investment Promotion Agency
Panel 3: Yunbin Xia, President, Shandong International Investment Promotion Agency
Panel 4: Dong Tao, Assistant President, Shanghai Foreign Investment Development Board

4.45 pm: Interaction and individual meetings with the promotion agencies’ representatives

5.30 pm: Closing of the event

The workshop will take place in the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation, 452 Diagonal Avenue, Barcelona.


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To register for the event call to 902 448 448 or visit the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce website for this event.

Catalan companies seeking opportunities in the machinery sector in China

From http://www.anella.cat/web/portal/cercador-oportunitats/-/custom_publisher/7Nep/27513446/Oportunitats-de-negoci-en-el-sector-de-la-maquinaria-a-la-Xina (in Catalan)

ACC1Ó-Competitiveness for Catalonia has recently issued a 3-page dossier analyzing the situation of the machinery sector in China, aimed at the Catalan companies seeking opportunities in such a giant market. The document is composed of an analysis of the machinery sector in China, followed by a description of the business opportunities and a list of references and contacts, such as the China International Machinery Industry Exhibition, the China Yiwu International Machinery Industry Fair, the China International Machine Tool and the China Machinery Industry Federation (Chinese website). For further information, download the 3-page report (pdf file) and/or can contact Mrs. Isabel Gimeno (ialtarriba@acc10.cat) at the Centre for Internationalization within ACC1Ó-Competitiveness for Catalonia.